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Meroh

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I hoped to be making a report about how my FA M-Press worked; I was looking forward to trying it out after reading good reviews. As mentioned in my other thread I got a great deal on it because the packaging was a bit beat up. Turns out the light was broken and the cord and wall adaptor were missing from the box; everything else was actually in perfect condition.

I had read about how great their customer support is, and I contacted them. After 5 emails back and forth, "Hayden" told me that they are currently not shipping parts to Canada, and can not help me. I said I am not concerned about warranty, but would be glad to buy the parts, and pay shipping to Canada. No, was the reply, the don't ship to canada.

A great product, well made that can not be serviced is ultimately scrap.

My old Lyman turret that I bought new in 1975 or so is a great press, but I can not get priming components for it, and it is getting worn out. I would be in the same boat if I had kept this press.

I am grateful to Amazon that they accept returns, otherwise I would be hung out to dry on this one.

My search for a good quality, single stage press continues.

Mark
 
Hi Mark,

You can likely fix your turret to get any slop/wear out of it.
I use a hand primer and like it a lot better than priming on a press, have you considered a hand primer?

If you want you can borrow mine to see how you like using a handprimer.
 
bertn said:
Hi Mark,

You can likely fix your turret to get any slop/wear out of it.
I use a hand primer and like it a lot better than priming on a press, have you considered a hand primer?

If you want you can borrow mine to see how you like using a handprimer.
Click to expand...

Thanks Bertn, yes. Got a Lee bench auto prime in the mail today. The old lyman is very is very lose between the ram and the casting. I'm considering a Rock Chucker.
 
Meroh said:
Thanks Bertn, yes. Got a Lee bench auto prime in the mail today. The old lyman is very is very lose between the ram and the casting. I'm considering a Rock Chucker.
Click to expand...

I also have a RC that you can borrow to see if you like it.

I have it as a loaner model for guys at the club that might want to get into reloading but don't know if they would like it or not.
 
If it was a good press at a good price I would likely have kept it and figured something out for lighting.

I have light on my Hornady Projector and my 366 that I made from parts bought at the local surplus store.
Cost less than 10 bucks for the light and the adapter.
 
bertn said:
I also have a RC that you can borrow to see if you like it.

I have it as a loaner model for guys at the club that might want to get into reloading but don't know if they would like it or not.
Click to expand...

No question the RC is a great press. :)

As an engineer, I really liked collinear and floating design, compared to everything else available. RCBS's collinear press has issues with the single pillar allowing the press to twist. I am also considering a Redding "Big Boss".
 
Gatehouse said:
The problem was with a light?

What about the actual press?
Click to expand...

Light was broken right out of the back of the press; the cable and the wall adaptor were missing from the kit, as was the allen wrench (not that I needed it). The press was perfect; impressive even.
 
bertn said:
If it was a good press at a good price I would likely have kept it and figured something out for lighting.

I have light on my Hornady Projector and my 366 that I made from parts bought at the local surplus store.
Cost less than 10 bucks for the light and the adapter.
Click to expand...

At this stage of my life, I really don't want to waste time dicking with someone else's junk LOL (which is what I do, day in and day out as a Process Engineer). Sure I could have rigged something up; but I don't really have time. My plan was to be at the range today testing loads; I don't want to make more ammo on my old lose press.
 
Since 911 there are somethings that you just cant ship across the border, presses and handloading equipment isn't one of them. A lot of companies just couldn't be bothered with the extra step of filling out a form. Remember we are just a small minority to them, heck there are more people in California than all of Canada. If I run into issues where the company wont ship to Canada I just have them ship it to my cousin in Utah and then he ships it to me, really frustrating but it gets the job done.

I bought a RCBS Rock chucker JR. as my first press in 1974. Used it till about 1980 or so and bought the full Rock Chucker. For single stage use I still use it till this day. I have since upgraded to progressive presses from Dillon for .223 and pistol rounds but my Rock Chucker is as solid as it was 40 years ago.
 
To each their own but I guess you will be spending more
time "dicking around" with the repacking, return shipping, finding another perfect/impressive press at a good price etcetera then fixing the broken light.

You probably even could have gotten a partial refund that would have covered the cost of an adapter easily.

But again to each their own. Good luck in your search for something else.

My offers still stand :) Even if you just want to use a press until you found something else.
I've got a RC, a RC supreme, a Lyman orange crusher and a vintage CH 111 you can choose from lol.
 
bertn said:
To each their own but I guess you will be spending more
time "dicking around" with the repacking, return shipping, finding another perfect/impressive press at a good price etcetera then fixing the broken light.

You probably even could have gotten a partial refund that would have covered the cost of an adapter easily.

But again to each their own. Good luck in your search for something else.

My offers still stand :) Even if you just want to use a press until you found something else.
I've got a RC, a RC supreme, a Lyman orange crusher and a vintage CH 111 you can choose from lol.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the offer, I know I can't go wrong with a RC, Redding, Lyman O frames. Maybe even a cast Hornady; but not sure about the play in the Lock n load bushings.

Well, I think Hornady is out; no way to know if the work lose, potential failure mode for sure: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBPBib43H_I
 
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seems Im missing something, you get a press at a great deal because packaging is damaged, only damage is the light, non of my presses have lights however you can get cheap LED lights all shapes and sizes from China for cheap, Amazon likely have them just go on line and get a light they likely got it from China in the first place. A light does not make it a great press.

on the other hand if you wanted trouble and damage free products stay away from discounted purchases with damaged packaging
 
laurencen said:
seems Im missing something, you get a press at a great deal because packaging is damaged, only damage is the light, non of my presses have lights however you can get cheap LED lights all shapes and sizes from China for cheap, Amazon likely have them just go on line and get a light they likely got it from China in the first place. A light does not make it a great press.

on the other hand if you wanted trouble and damage free products stay away from discounted purchases with damaged packaging
Click to expand...

This is not the point (by the way, I have had a lot of wins and very few losses; even with this one, free return for full refund. No risk to me.

The point is that Frankford will not ship parts to canada, warranty or not. Something I would not have found out until i needed something else. Bargain or not, parts availability is a deal breaker. If you had read the rest of my posts, you would know that is why I am looking for a new press... I can't get parts for my worn-out old Lyman I have have had for 40 + years, and that I have been limping through for about the last three years.

I am responsible for some very big presses at work; automotive glass encapsulation. We have two presses less than 10 years old and the company is out of business. Something breaks, it is reverse engineering and custom build because no OEM, no OEM parts. I have enough of that s*** in my life without bringing it home.

Would you buy a car, even a used car for frequent use if you new you could not buy parts for it??
 
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